 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 7: Om Prakash Chouhan, hailing from Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, showcased a remarkable performance in the final round, carding a three-under 69 to secure a three-shot victory with a total score of 11-under 277 at the Rs. 50 lakh J&K Open 2023 presented by J&K Tourism, hosted at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course (JTGC).
Chouhan (71-70-67-69) claimed his second title of the season, earning a prize money cheque worth Rs. 7,50,000. This victory also extended his lead in the TATA Steel PGTI Ranking, boosting his season's earnings to Rs. 79,03,009. Om Prakash now holds a commanding lead of over Rs. 23 lakh ahead of his closest competitor, Aman Raj, in the PGTI's money list.
Akshay Sharma of Chandigarh (68-71-72-69) secured the runner-up position at eight-under 280 with a final-round score of 69. This performance marked his third consecutive top-3 finish and propelled him to the eighth position in the PGTI's merit list.
Om Prakash Chouhan, the overnight leader by one shot, displayed control over the game for the first half of the day. He recorded three birdies up to the 10th hole, sinking eight to 10-foot putts with relative ease.
Although Chouhan encountered a double-bogey after a three-putt on the 11th hole, he quickly regained control with another 10-foot birdie conversion on the 12th. A bogey on the 16th hole did not deter Chouhan, as he finished strongly with birdies on the last two holes, including a 20-foot conversion on the 17th.
Chouhan commented, "Today I didn't try anything fancy and just focused on playing regulation golf. I thought, let the others try to catch up with me. Importantly, I didn't have any anxious moments because I made good comebacks every time I dropped shots. That helped me play with a relaxed mind."
He also expressed his delight at playing at the Jammu Tawi Golf Course and expressed anticipation about returning next year. Chouhan attributed his improved game to his time at Kalhaar Blues & Greens in Ahmedabad and thanked his supporters for their unwavering support.
Runner-up Akshay Sharma's final round featured five birdies and two bogeys. Delhi-based golfers Kapil Kumar (seven-under 281) and Harshjeet Singh Sethie (five-under 283) secured the third and fourth positions, respectively.
Final Leaderboard:
277: Om Prakash Chouhan (71-70-67-69)
280: Akshay Sharma (68-71-72-69)
281: Kapil Kumar (69-68-72-72)
283: Harshjeet Singh Sethie (69-71-73-70). |
